The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1887-05-26

turned softly, and n strange maj
looked ina young man, with pallid,
greasy, leering face, o~rnaInented by q
thievish looking twist of hair on each
side. while a limp cap of semi-military
cut was stuck rakishly on the side Of
his head.
noticed these details mechanically
as / sat petrified with surprise and
fright, and also noticed that his long
dirty neck was without a tie or a col.
lar, q shabby frock coat being button.
ed up to his chin, and that his dirtier
hands sported more than one ring.
This individual, after darling swift
glance around the room, slipped in
and locked the door, saying:
"Slick! Popsy-wopsy, don't be
frightened I'm not going to hurt you
not a bit of it! But, you see.
Stop that" he growled; for. as he APP.
preached me, l recovered myself a
little, and gave a good loud scream
Quick as thought he had his hand
over my mouth, holding my chin and
nose in such O. manner that l was
nearly suffocated, then he gave. me q
shake, saying:
"If you do that again, I'll pay you
out, you little fool! There-she is 60
ing to be nice and quiet now, amt
she? A picter of good behavior, IcaIls
her!!"
Talking thus, he gagged me dexter
ously with some of my work-which,
however, was pleasanter than his hand
ugh, that ugly grimy hand!-on my
mouth, and then producing some cord
from his pocket, and in q minute or
two | was--poor feeble thing-bound
hand and foot in my chair.
He grinned at me as he remarked:
"Now, you know. ducky, 1 wouldn't
have served you SO if you'd have the
sense to keep quiet. l never could
bear to be rough to the ladies-never.
But time is short, and you might have
been hard to persuade; so perhaps it
Is the best way. after all.
While speaking thus, the f1ippant
rascal kept running his eyes around
our neat little room. / read disdain
in his glance, and at that moment a
suspicion darted into my mind that
he had come with the object of steal
some of Ned's work-perhaps the
bracelets which then were un-
der my feet. With this thought there
to me a firm resolve to save my
brother such a loss, i~fIpossibly could;
8y, even though [ had to endure tor
lures, l would not speak. l set my
teeth hard and watched the man. His
glances soon reverted to me-
Look here, dear, if l loosen this
q bit, and You take breath, will
you speak to me nicely? Only don't
again 1t makes me quite
nervous to hear you scream, and can't
10 40 good" How we'll l knew that, |
n q back room In a quiet street.
There, amt it much nor comfort
able?''-loosening the cloth. 'TeIl me
low, popsy, your brothers got some
yaluables here, amt he2"
| shook my head.
ooh, but he has, So you needn't Jog
our noodle like that. Better tell me
where he's put them. lit Will save lots
# time, and be more pleasant for
-ou."
But l only shook my head the more.
"Did you ever see SIGH stUbborness2"
nuttered the fellow. tying up my
mouth again. 81 am afeerd l shall
ave to make youspeak directly. But
never like to be unkind to the Ladies,
Inless they drive metoit-oh, never!."
Saying this he began an examination
f the apartment, proceeding in what,
s I suppose, would be described by q
PROFESSIONAL as the chest style"
,nyway, his movements were charac-
cried by extraordinary celebrity.
a few minutes he had gone to
he bottom of every drawer and box
4 the room, and also turned out the
OLA bedstead where Ned slept at night.
pretty litter he made of it all! But
e had not yet discovered the secret
f my footstool. Can, any one imag-
lie what Iendured as Lsat there, help
,ss as a poor little Chinese "ioss,"
he cold perspiration of fear on my
orehead, while Iasked myself. "What
ill the fellow do next?"
He turned round while. proceeding
18th the search and. looking at me,
aid:
"Hallo, Poppet, how pale you are!
int going to faint, are you? Oh!
ont faint, for l shall want you to
ak to me a bit. I'll open the win
ow and give you a. mouthful of fresh
ir. This room is precious close"
He went to the window-the window
Inch dear Ted had cautioned me not
otouch that morning-unfastened the
atch and would have let down the
PIPER part; but he was saved the
for, the cord being broken,
own, quick as a shot, came the win
ow, and, as luck would haveit caught
is eight fingers tight between the up
er and middle frames.
The pain and the shock must have
cen dreadful, the window-frame being
wide and very heavy one Heuttered
howl, then kicked frantically; but
II was in vain. There he stood, with
ands held aloft, caught in as nice a
rap as could have been devised for an
vildoor.
Then he glanced at me, and, the
ight of me, "picterof good behavior"
hat | was, must have filled his soul
18th remorse, since through his own
ct 1 was rendered powerless to assist
i'm. He whined, however.
Cant you help me?"
As it was impossible for me willingly
n look On while q fellOw-creature